Electrical compound letter



Patented Oct. 16, 1928.

BRADFORD D. COFFEY, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW' JERSEY.

ELECTRICAL COMPQUND LETTER- Application filed August 17, 1925. Serial No 50,771.

This invention relates to electrical signs and particularly to an improved sign wherein all the letters oi the alphabet, numbers and other configurations may beV produced by causing dii'llerent groups of lights to be lighted.

The object of the invention is to provide a sign wherein different letters or other con 'rigurations may be made from the same set of lightsV by lightingdifierentk groups ot lamps at dil'lerent times.

Another object ot the invention is to provide an electric sign wherein is utilized a large number of lamps, the lamps being; arbitrarily located so .that by switching on certain groups dilierent letters or other configurations may be produced and most ofthe lamps used at diil'erent times in forming certain groups.

A further object of the invention is to provide an electric sign composed. of electric lamps arrangedin arbitrary groupings and associated with a source ot power, suitable wiringand a switch mechanism including a single movable member for substantially in* stantly lighting a different `.group of lamps so as to provide a different letter or other coniiguration.

An additional object or". the invention is to provide an electric signal wherein groups ot' lamps are provided and associated with certain switch mechanism `whereby upon the f proper actuation of the switch mechanism successive letters may be formed whereby any desired number of words may he spelled out iii-succession so as to present as long a message as desired.

In the accompanying drawings- Figure l is a diagram of a letter disclosing an embodiment of the invention, thesame being provided with dot and dash lines indieating the outline of the various letters when formed.

Figure 2 is a diagram of the' letter A- Figure is a diagram of the letter C.

Referring to the accompaning drawings by numerals, l indicates a series of dotted lines along which the various lamps, 2 are arranged. It will be noted that these lamps are not arranged in rows but are arbitrarilyv positioned on the various lines l whereby any letter of the alphabet and certain other conigurations may be secured by turning on current to the various electric lamps 2 according to the group desired.

In forming the letters A and C as shown in Figuresy 2 and 3,`a large number of the same lamps are used but certain lamps are added in the letter C and certain lamps are not used in the letter C. It is to be noted that the lamps are electrical lamps of any desired kind and that they may have a common return arranged in any desired manner.

In the drawing, only one compound letter is shown but it will be understood that any desired number of these letters may be arranged in a horizontal row or in a vertical row or in tact, in any other desired way. FV here there `are several superimposed horizontal rows, an operator may readily spell out one or more words and leave the same eoY burning or may open the circuit of the varii ous lamps and spell out another set of words. As clearing` indicated in Figure l, the various lamp members 2 are arranged on the dot and 4dash lines l and these lines present horizontal rows of lamp members 3, vertical rows ot lamp members 4, together with a V-shaped arrangement 5. Also, diagonal rows 6 are arranged at the corners and substantially V- shaped rows 7 arranged in the center, together with inclined rows 8 and 9 whereby a composite letter is provided which will present lamp members so arranged as to use a straight line eii'ect in forming any letter or number.

vWhat Iclaim is: Y

A compound letter for electric signs comprising a plurality of series or lamp members, each series being arranged in a straight line, said series of lamp members including a plurality of vertical rows of lamp members, a horizontal row of lamp members at the top and bottom, a horizontal row at the center, a` pair of diagonal rows of lamp members, one of said diagonal rows extending from one cornerto the opposite corner at the opposite end andthe other diagonal row of lamp members connecting the remaining,` corners, said diagonal rows of lamp members converging at the center of the letter,` a straight row of lamp members adjacent each corner et the corners to the central lamp member at the 5 lower end of the letter, a pair of V-sbaped rows of lamp members at the' center with thelrapexes extendmg at rlght angles to the vertical, and an inclined row oflamp members extending 'from one of the upper corners of the letter at an angle downwardly to the opposite side of the letter and passing through a lamp' member half-way between Suid oppo- Y tbe center of the letter. 4BRADFORD QD. COFFEY.

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